New Orleans, LA — In just a few days, there will be countless celebrations to ring in the new year. Many are ready to move on from 2020 after many crazy events and a worldwide pandemic that has resulted in thousands of lives lost. Each year, television networks battle with their New Years’ Eve celebrations.
One big event is the “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve,” which has been a staple of News Years Eve for many years. It’s hosted by Ryan Seacrest and is scheduled to take place in New Orleans this year. One Christian singer scheduled to perform this year has now been canceled.
Singer Lauren Daigle was scheduled to appear on the show this year, but after a complaint by the New Orleans mayor, she has been canceled. Mayor LaToya Cantrell wrote a letter to the production studio responsible for the show and asked that Daigle be removed for violating COVID restrictions that were put into place.
Reports are that Daigle was riding her bike nearby and was asked to sing a song. The event was a protest and worship event, and Daigle only sang one song with the crowd.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS OVER AMERICA tonight in New Orleans with @Lauren_Daigle 😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/B6piHkmH7u
— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) November 7, 2020
In the letter, Cantrell stated that Daigle did not deserve national exposure after attending a November 7 “Let Us Worship” event. The mayor says that the event endangered lives and that Daigle should be removed as punishment.
The Attorney General of Louisiana responded to the letter, calling the request a violation of Daigle’s rights. He stated that state and federal laws protect her rights to worship, as she did at the November 7 event. He also spoke about the double standard that the Mayor has placed on different people holding events in the city.
BREAKING: Today I stood up to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell for targeting Christian music performer LAUREN DAIGLE just because she expressed her faith through song at a protest. The same Mayor who has not attacked other protests or recent Conventions. See my letter here. pic.twitter.com/dSg4zppZI2
— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) December 14, 2020
The event that Daigle attended was well within her first amendment rights. Daigle would be well within her rights to sue the City of New Orleans and the mayor for the retaliation against her for exercising her rights.
The New Orleans mayor may believe that her powers usurp the Constitution, but that is not the case. Daigle was well within her rights, along with anyone else at the event in November. While cities and states want to declare restrictions amid the pandemic, they cannot overpower individual rights in the Constitution.
First Amendment realization claims have been settled in the courts in the past. Daigle needs no evidence as the letter, and the public posting of such is all she would need to settle the case.
It’s clear, the Mayor of New Orleans retaliated against her for exercising her first amendment rights, and Dick Clark Productions is also liable for going along with it.
Daigle responded to the cancellation in a most professional way. Her response called for healing, rather than further division. She described the event she participated in and how she became involved. She shared her desire to still represent her state and perform if it would be allowed.
ABC and Dick Clark Productions should reverse course on this immediately and allowed Daigle to participate. They can take a stand saying that first amendment rights still exist and are important. Otherwise, I hope that the AG of Louisiana will file and prosecute a case on behalf of Daigle.
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JD Washington is the Editor-in-Chief at The Liberty Loft and host of The JD Washington Show. Be sure to subscribe to The Liberty Loft’s daily newsletter. If you enjoy our content, please consider donating to support The Liberty Loft so we can continue to deliver great content.
